To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3
Who are the “Trees of Righteousness”? I have never heard about the “trees of righteousness” have you? In this verse it references to those who might be called the “trees of righteousness” who are the planting of the Lord. The planting of the Lord . . . those who hear him calling them, those who are mourning, and those who have the spirit of heaviness. Oh, how we need beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for today. We need to know that our God hears us when we have a heavy heart. These are those who have believed in him and those who have been grafted in by God. How amazing that the Lord has a personal interest in all who are grafted into the vine of His lordship and fellowship. The root of the tree is the Lord Jesus Christ himself who is the righteous one. Jesus himself is the gift of righteousness to the world. The grace of God became the gift of grace by one man, Jesus Christ.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
Romans 5:19
It was Adam’s disobedience to God that caused sin to become the character of man towards doing evil. Everyone is tempted when they are drawn away by their own lust and enticed, [see James 1:14]. Adam’s sin brought judgment upon all men to condemnation, but the righteousness of one the free gift came upon men to justification of life, [see Romans 5:18]. It was Jesus Christ who humbled himself and become obedient unto death on the cross that we might be made righteous. It is by faith in Jesus that we become righteous. The Hebrew word for righteousness is “‘tsedeq’ and it means ‘rightness or justice.’ This means that a human being is morally good. This means that humans have a genuine respect for all people. It was Jesus who was anointed by God to preach the good news unto the meek, and to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive, to comfort all that mourn, oil of joy for the mourning, garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness and so forth. In a world that is torn by injustices every day, we need to know that there is hope for something better than the failure of our human condition. Those who are righteous have the Lord’s ear. He hears their cry.
The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Psalms 34:15-16
The Lord hears the cry of the righteous for they are the planting of the Lord. They are the ones who have been established by their faith in Christ. They have put on the armor of Light by casting off the works of darkness. They have put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not allow the works of the flesh to rule their hearts. They are the ones who put on the whole armor of God in order to stand against the devious works of the devil.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:5
The righteous ones are not deceived for they know who they are in Christ. They know that whoever abides in the Lord Jesus will not sin, for the purpose of the Son of God was to destroy the works of the devil, [see 1 John 3:8]. Those who are righteous are those who abide in the vine. They know that without Jesus they can do nothing. Only if they abide in Him are all things possible.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.”
John 15:7
Ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. It shall be done unto you for the father desires that you bear much fruit. The father recognizes Jesus in you. Have you ever thought about this. The apostle Paul did, for he stated that “we are laborer’s together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building,” [1 Corinthians 3:8]. This implies fellowship and communion with God. If you are abiding in the vine, you have fellowship with God. If you are God’s building then you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you. You have become a holy temple. The apostle Paul stated, “for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are,” [see 1 Corinthians 3:17]. We must learn to see through the eyes of the Lord God, and it is only through the Holy Spirit that we gain wisdom and understanding in knowing God and how He sees us through His Son Jesus Christ. In this we see God’s desire for all mankind.
“Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.”
Isaiah 60:21
We become the branch of His planting, the work of His hands, that He may be glorified. Christ is the gift of God, and so is righteousness a gift of God. We do not work for it since it is a gift received by faith. We must remember that Jesus Christ is himself the chief corner stone. Jesus is our peace that has broken down the middle wall of partition. We who once were aliens and strangers to the covenants of promise and having no hope in the world have been drawn near by the blood of Christ. Is Christ our peace? Yes, He is our peace and righteousness. It is through Christ that we become the trees of righteousness for we are grafted into the true vine who is Christ. Through Christ we become and grow into a holy temple in the Lord. We are being built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, [see Ephesians 2:22]. How exciting it is to become a holy temple of God. Can we even envision such a mystery as this.
The apostle of Paul wanted us to know that we are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God [see Ephesians 2:19]. Are you not of the household of God? Have you believed in Jesus as the Son of God, who died for our sins, arose from the grave, and is now sitting at the right hand of God? Are you not born again into a new man by faith in Jesus Christ? Have you been reconciled to God? There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that has repented. Can you imagine that? Joy in the presence of the angels over one lonely sinner who has repented and ask for forgiveness. Only God is able to save us from our sin. Only God can create a new man. Only God can provide a new way of living in this world. Paul exclaimed that all men should see what the fellowship of the mystery is, which from the beginning of the ages hath been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, [see Ephesians 3:9]. Let the love of Christ be grounded and rooted in your heart so that you may grow into a tree of righteousness for all to see how Christ is glorified within you to the praise of His glory.
